Electronic cigarette capable of displaying service life state of atomizing apparatus thereof

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides an electronic cigarette capable of displaying service life state of an atomizing apparatus thereof, comprising: an atomizing apparatus, comprising a liquid chamber, a heating assembly and an identification circuit; and a supplying and controlling apparatus detachably connected to the atomizing apparatus, the supplying and controlling apparatus comprising: a battery module which is electrically connected with the heating assembly and the identification circuit; and a controlling module, wherein the identification circuit comprises an identification unit configured for storing identity information of the atomizing apparatus, and a recording unit configured for recording service data of the atomizing apparatus, and wherein the controlling module comprises a reading unit capable of reading identity information and service data of the atomizing apparatus, a displaying unit configured for displaying the identity information and service data, and a controlling unit configured for controlling a heating element of the heating assembly.

TECHNICAL HELD

The present disclosure relates to electronic cigarettes, and more particularly to an electronic cigarette capable of displaying service life state of an atomizing apparatus thereof.

BACKGROUND

Electronic cigarettes are currently become more and more popular to users instead of traditional cigarettes. When using an electronic cigarette, E-cigarette liquid therein is vaporized by means of an atomizing apparatus so that a smoke can be generated inhaled by a user. Since service life of the atomizing apparatus for electric heating the E-cigarette liquid of the electronic cigarette is limited, user taste would be influenced. Moreover, hazardous substance which may result in a risk to user's health may be produced when the service time of the atomizing apparatus reaches a certain degree. However, it is difficult for the user to learn the service life of the atomizing apparatus by the taste during smoking the electronic cigarette, and the user only find the atomizing apparatus has approached or reached the end of its service life when the taste is severely damaged, which results poor user experiences.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is necessary to provide an electronic cigarette to mitigate or obviate to some degree the above problems.

The present disclosure provides an electronic cigarette capable of displaying service life state of an atomizing apparatus thereof, comprising: an atomizing apparatus, comprising a liquid chamber, a heating assembly and an identification circuit; and a supplying and controlling apparatus detachably connected to the atomizing apparatus, the supplying and controlling apparatus comprising: a battery module which is electrically connected with the heating assembly and the identification circuit; and a controlling module, wherein the identification circuit comprises an identification unit configured for storing identity information of the atomizing apparatus, and a recording unit configured for recording service data of the atomizing apparatus, and wherein the controlling module comprises a reading unit capable of reading identity information and service data of the atomizing apparatus, a displaying unit configured for displaying the identity information and service data, and a controlling unit configured for controlling a heating element of the heating assembly.

in some embodiments, the liquid chamber is defined by an atomizing housing and a mounting seat which are connected to each other, the heating assembly is fixed in the liquid chamber, and the identification circuit is positioned in a bottom of the mounting seat and separated from the liquid chamber through the mounting seat.

In some embodiments, an outlet channel is provided on a top of the atomizing housing, an inlet channel is provided in the mounting seat, and the heating assembly is connected with the inlet channel and the outlet channel to form an airflow channel there through.

In some embodiments, the mounting seat comprises a sealing element, a support element, a base and a bottom cover arranged in sequence from top to bottom, the sealing element covers and seals tightly an outside surface of the support element, the support element is fixed on a top of the base by means of snap fit, and the support element and the base cooperatively define an inner chamber, the inlet channel communicates the inner chamber with the airflow channel, an inlet hole is provided on a bottom of the base, and the inlet hole enables the inner chamber to communicate with an outside of the atomizing apparatus.

In some embodiments, a filling tube is provided in the mounting seat, the filling tube has a top extending to the inner chamber and a bottom connecting to a bottom of the base, the bottom cover is arranged under the base, and the bottom cover comprises a plug for sealing the filling tube and a pallet for holding the identification circuit.

In some embodiments, the heating assembly is cylindrical and hollow, and comprises a heating element, a liquid conducting element and a sleeve, wherein the sleeve serves as an outermost layer of the heating assembly, the heating element serves as an innermost layer of the heating assembly, and the liquid conducting element is arranged between an outer peripheral wall of the heating element and an inner wall of the sleeve.

In some embodiments, the heating assembly further comprises a fixing pipe and a backing ring, an outer diameter of the backing ring is equaling to an outer diameter of the liquid conducting element, and the backing ring is arranged coaxially under the conducting element, and the fixing pipe surrounds the conducting element and the backing ring to support the conducting element.

In some embodiments, the supplying and controlling apparatus comprises a holder and a casing, the casing is hollow and cylindrical, with an opening at its top end, and the atomizing apparatus is partially inserted into the casing through the opening, the holder is accommodated in the casing, and the holder and the casing are coaxially arranged under the atomizing apparatus.

In some embodiments, the controlling module comprises a controlling circuit and an airflow sensing element, and the reading unit, the displaying unit, and the controlling unit are provided in the controlling circuit, the airflow sensing element is arranged in an opening communicating with the airflow channel, and the airflow sensing element is configured to feed back a sensing signal to the controlling circuit to activate the heating element.

In some embodiments, the recording unit comprises a timer for timing total service time of the atomizing apparatus, and/or a timer for counting total smoking times of a user, the identity information comprises an identification code and life cycle, and the life cycle is configured to be a predetermined total service time and/or a predetermined total smoking times.

The electronic cigarette capable of displaying service life state of the atomizing apparatus thereof according to the present disclosure can realize that the service life state of the atomizing apparatus is recorded, stored, read and displayed, whereby a user can immediately^(,) obtain the using state of the atomizing apparatus, so that poor user experiences can be avoided, and the possibility of hazardous substance resulting in a risk to user's health can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of an electronic cigarette capable of displaying service life state of an atomizing apparatus thereof according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a structural schematic view of the atomizing apparatus of the electronic cigarette shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the atomizing apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of a heating assembly of the atomizing apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of a supplying and controlling apparatus of the electronic cigarette shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an identification circuit and a controlling circuit of the electronic cigarette shown in FIG. 1, wherein the controlling circuit is connected with a heating element of the heating assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure will be further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments so that the technical solution and the advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent. It can be understood that the drawings are only provided for reference and explanation, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, the present disclosure provides an electronic cigarette 100 including an atomizing apparatus 1 and a supplying and controlling apparatus 2 which are detachably connected to each other. In use, the atomizing apparatus 1 is partially inserted into the supplying and controlling apparatus 2 and is electrically connected there to.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the atomizing apparatus 1 mainly includes a liquid chamber 11, a heating assembly 12 arranged in the liquid chamber 11, and an identification circuit 13. The identification circuit 13 includes an identification unit 131 for storing identity information of the atomizing apparatus 1, and a recording unit 132 for recording service data of the atomizing apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 6. The recording unit 132 includes a timer 132 for timing total service time of the atomizing apparatus 1, and/or a timer 133 for counting total smoking times of a user. The identity information includes an identification code and life cycle, and the life cycle may be a predetermined total service time and/or a predetermined total smoking times.

An inlet channel 112 is provided on a bottom of the liquid chamber 11 and an outlet channel 111 is provided on a top of the liquid chamber 11. The heating assembly 12 is provided in the liquid chamber 11. The heating assembly 12 is connected with the inlet channel 112 and the outlet channel 111 to form an airflow channel there through, so that an airflow can flow into the heating assembly 12 through the inlet channel 112 and then flow out of the heating assembly 12 via the outlet channel 111.

In this embodiment, the liquid chamber 11 is defined by an atomizing housing 14 and a mounting seat 15 which are connected to each other. The atomizing housing 14 forms a side wall and a top wall of the liquid chamber 11, and the mounting seat 15 forms a bottom wall of the liquid chamber 11, In this embodiment, the inlet channel 112 is provided in the mounting seat 15, and the outlet channel 111 is provided in a top of the atomizing housing 14 and extends into a middle portion of the liquid chamber 11. The bottom wall of the liquid chamber 11 is provided with an injection opening 113. In this embodiment, the injection opening 113 is also provided in the mounting seat 15.

In this embodiment, the mounting seat 115 generally has a tubular shape and includes a sealing element 151, a support element 152, a base 153 and a bottom cover 154 arranged in sequence from top to bottom. The support element 152 is fixed on a top of the base 153 by means of snap fit. The support element 152 and the base 153 cooperatively define an inner cavity there between. The sealing element 151 is made of silicone and is cap shaped, and the sealing element 151 covers and seals tightly an outside surface of the support element 152 in order to separate the support element 152 from the liquid chamber 11.

Specifically, the inlet channel 112 is provided in the support element 152 and communicates with the inner chamber. A through hole 151A is provided in the sealing element 151, which extends through a thickness of the sealing element 151 and is corresponding to the inlet channel 12. The heating assembly 12 is arranged in and extends through the through hole 151A to communicate with the inlet channel 112. An inlet hole 153A is provided on a bottom of the base 153 and communicates with the inner chamber. A location of the inlet hole 153A deviates from a location of the inlet channel 112. A height of the inlet hole 153A is larger than a thickness of a bottom wall of the base 153, for this purpose, the inlet hole 153A is provided in a post which extends from the bottom wall of the base 153. The airflow flows into the inner chamber through the inlet hole 153A and then flows into the inlet channel 112, a direction of the airflow is indicated by black arrows in FIG. 1. Therefore, condensate liquid attached on an inner wall of the airflow channel can flow into the inner chamber along the inlet channel 112 and be maintained in the inner chamber without flowing out of the inlet hole 153A.

The injection opening 113 is provided in the sealing element 151. A filling tube 152B for filling liquid into the liquid chamber 11 is provided in the support element 152. The filling tube 152B has a bottom connecting to a filling hole 153B of the base 153, and a top extending to the injection opening 113 of the sealing element 151. Liquid can therefore enter through the filling hole 153B and then passes through the filling tube 152B and the injection opening 113 to flow into the liquid chamber 11. The bottom cover 154 is arranged under the base 153. The bottom cover 154 has a plug 154B which is inserted into a bottom end of the filling hole 153B to prevent the liquid from flowing out. In this embodiment, the plug 154B has an inserting column 541 inserting into the bottom end of the filling hole 153B and at least one flange 542 extending radially and outwards from an outer periphery of the inserting column 541. Preferably, the at least one flange 542. includes two flanges in parallel. The at least one flange 542 enables the plug 154B to be tightly engaged with the filling hole 153B, so that a sealing performance of the plug 154B can be further improved. The bottom cover 154 also includes a pallet 154A for holding and positioning the identification circuit 13. Moreover, conductive pins 152A is provided in the inner chamber defined by the support element 152 and the base 153, which extend through the base 153 to electrically connect the identification circuit 13.

In this embodiment, the heating assembly 12 is cylindrical and hollow, with two opposite ends along its length respectively extending into the inlet channel 112 and the outlet channel 111. Referring to FIG. 4, the heating assembly 12 includes a heating element 121, a liquid conducting element 122 and a sleeve 126 arranged coaxially. The sleeve 126 is tubular shaped and serves as an outermost layer of the heating assembly 12, to fix the heating element 121 and the liquid conducting element 112 in the liquid chamber 11. In this embodiment, two opposite ends of the sleeve 126 along its length are respectively fixed to the inlet channel 112 and the outlet channel 111 of the liquid chamber 11A side wall of the sleeve 126 adjacent to the bottom wall of the liquid chamber 11 is provided with at least one sleeve opening 126A for absorbing the liquid in the liquid chamber 11, and the liquid can be absorbed by the liquid conducting element 122 only through the sleeve opening 126A. in this embodiment, a plurality of sleeve openings 126A are arranged at intervals along a circumferential direction of the sleeve 126.

The heating element 121 serves as an innermost layer of the heating assembly 12. The heating element 121 may be made of a heating wire, a heating film, a heating panel, a heating tube, or a combination of two or more thereof, or other like heating members. The liquid conducting element 122 is configured to surround an outer peripheral wall of the heating element 121. The liquid conductive element 122 can be made of porous material, such as sponge, cotton, paper, porous ceramics or a combination of two or more thereof. In this embodiment, middle sections of the heating element 121 and the liquid conductive element 122 are aligned with the sleeve opening 126A so that the liquid conductive element 122 directly contacts the liquid stored in the liquid chamber 11 at the sleeve opening 1126A to absorb and conduct the liquid to the heating element 121.

In this embodiment, the heating assembly 12 is further provided with a fixing pipe 123 and a backing ring 124. An inner wall of the fixing pipe 123 is tightly engaged with an outer peripheral wall of the liquid conducting element 122 to support and fix the liquid conducting element 122. A fixing pipe opening 123A is provided in the fixing pipe 123 aligned with the sleeve opening 126A correspondingly. The backing ring 124 is arranged in the fixing pipe 123 under the liquid conducting element 122. An inner portion of the backing ring 124 is configured as a part of the airflow channel. An outer diameter of the backing ring 124 is equaling to an outer diameter of the liquid conducting element 122. A top end of the backing ring 124 abuts against a bottom end of the liquid conducting element 122, and a bottom end of the backing ring 124 extends downwards and is connected with the inlet channel 112. Due to the arrangement of the backing ring 124, the liquid can be prevented from flowing into the inlet channel 112 along the inner wall of the fixing pipe 123, and the liquid conducting element 122 can be positioned in its axial direction.

In this embodiment, an annular sealing collar 125 is further provided and arranged between an end of the sleeve 126 adjacent to the top wall of the liquid chamber 11 and the outlet channel 111, in order to prevent the liquid in the liquid chamber 11 from entering into the sleeve 126 and/or the outlet channel 111 through a junction there between. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the annular sealing collar 125 in this embodiment includes an inner ring 1251 and an outer ring 1252. The inner ring 1251 is substantial tubular and hollow. The outer ring 1252 is a flange extending from an outer periphery of the inner ring 1251 at an end, so that a step is formed. between the inner ring 1251 and the outer ring 1252 to receive an end of the sleeve 126 adjacent to the top wall of the liquid chamber 11, and therefore provides an improved sealing performance. The annular sealing collar 125 further includes an annular rim 1253 arranged at a periphery of the inner ring 1251 and extending outward in a radial direction of the inner ring 1251. The annular rim 1253 enables the sealing collar 125 to be tightly engaged with the sleeve 126 to further improve the sealing effect of the sealing collar 125. In this embodiment, a length of the outer ring 1252 in an axial direction of the sealing collar 125 is less than a length of the inner ring 1251 in the same direction, in order to facilitate an assembly between the sleeve 126 and the sealing collar 125.

In this embodiment, the atomizing apparatus 1 further includes a protective cover 16 at its bottom, and the protective cover 16 is connected with a bottom section of the atomizing housing 14, and defines a receiving chamber in which the liquid chamber 11, the heating assembly 12, the identification circuit 13, the atomizing housing 14 and the mounting seat 15 are accommodated cooperatively with the atomizing housing.

Referring to FIG. 5, the supplying and controlling apparatus 2 includes a battery module 21 and a controlling module 23. The battery module 21 is electrically connected with the controlling module 23, the heating assembly 12 and the identification circuit 13.

The supplying and controlling apparatus 2 further includes a holder 22 and a casing 24, for mounting and fixing the battery module 21 and the controlling module 23 as well as connecting with the atomizing apparatus 1. In this embodiment, the casing 24 is a hollow and cylindrical, with an opening at its top end. The above atomizing apparatus 1 is partially inserted into the casing 24 through the opening. The holder 22 is substantially cylindrical and is accommodated in the casing 24. The holder 22 and the casing 24 are coaxially arranged under the atomizing apparatus 1. The holder 22 has an upper plate 221, a lower plate 222, and a side section 223 connecting and fixing the upper plate 221 with the lower plate 222. A sealing ring 224 is mounted around an outer periphery of the upper plate 221 to prevent the liquid in the liquid chamber 1 from flowing downwards along an inner wall of the casing 24 which may damage the battery module 21 and the controlling module 23.

The battery module 21 includes a cell 211 arranged between the upper plate 221 and the lower plate 222, and the cell 211 is partially covered by the side section 223 of the holder 22. A spacer 213 is arranged between the cell 211 and the upper plate 221, and another spacer 213 is arranged between the cell 211 and the lower plate 222. The two spacers can be made of for example EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer) material or the like. The battery module 21 further includes a charging circuit 212 with a charging socket arranged under the lower plate 222. The charging circuit 212 is electrically connected with the cell 211 through conductive pins (not shown).

The controlling module 23 includes a controlling circuit 231 and an airflow sensing element 232. In this embodiment, the controlling module 23 is fixed on an outer periphery of the side section 223, which may be embedded in the side section 223 or just arranged on the side section 223. Referring to FIG. 6, the controlling circuit 231 includes a reading unit 311 capable of reading identity information and service data of the above atomizing apparatus 1; a displaying unit 312 capable of displaying the read data, for example, an LEI) screen; and a controlling unit 313 capable of controlling the above heating element 121. In this embodiment, the airflow sensing element 232 is arranged in an opening (not shown) of the upper plate 221 communicating with the inlet hole 153A. If a certain airflow volume is detected to pass there through, a sensing signal is fed back to the controlling circuit 231 to activate the heating element 121. In this embodiment, a circuit protective spacer 233 is arranged between the controlling circuit 231 and the holder 22, which can be made of for example EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer) material or the like. Moreover, a lens 241 is arranged on the casing 24 at a position corresponding to the displaying unit of the controlling circuit 231.

After the atomizing apparatus 1 is connected with the supplying and controlling apparatus 2, the supplying and controlling apparatus 2 can immediately read identity information, a life cycle (for example a predetermined total service time and/or a predetermined total smoking times) of the atomizing apparatus 1 and a service data of the atomizing apparatus 1 (for example a current total service time and/or a current total smoking times), and display the information and data directly or indirectly (for example, in percent) for a user's reference to determine whether the atomizing apparatus can continue to be used, so that poor user experiences can be avoided, and the possibility of hazardous substance resulting in a risk to user's health can be reduced.

The above is only preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. Any equivalent changes and modification made within the scope of the claims of the present disclosure shall be covered by the scope of the claims of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic cigarette capable of displaying service life state of an atomizing apparatus thereof, comprising: an atomizing apparatus, comprising a liquid chamber, a heating assembly and an identification circuit; and a supplying and controlling apparatus detachably connected to the atomizing apparatus, the supplying and controlling apparatus comprising: a battery module which is electrically connected with the heating assembly and the identification circuit; and a controlling module, wherein the identification circuit comprises an identification unit configured for storing identity information of the atomizing apparatus, and a recording unit configured for recording service data of the atomizing apparatus, and wherein the controlling module comprises a reading unit capable of reading identity information and service data of the atomizing apparatus, a displaying unit configured for displaying the identity information and service data, and a controlling unit configured for controlling a heating element of the heating assembly.
 2. The electronic cigarette capable of displaying service life state of an atomizing apparatus thereof according to claim 1, wherein the liquid chamber is defined by an atomizing housing and a mounting seat which are connected to each other, the heating assembly is fixed in the liquid chamber, and the identification circuit is positioned in a bottom of the mounting seat and separated from the liquid chamber through the mounting seat.
 3. The electronic cigarette capable of displaying service life state of an atomizing apparatus thereof according to claim 2, wherein an outlet channel is provided on a top of the atomizing housing, an inlet channel is provided in the mounting seat, and the heating assembly is connected with the inlet channel and the outlet channel to form an airflow channel there through.
 4. The electronic cigarette capable of displaying service life state of an atomizing apparatus thereof according to claim 3, wherein the mounting seat comprises a sealing element, a support element, a base and a bottom cover arranged in sequence from top to bottom, the sealing element covers and seals tightly an outside surface of the support element, the support element is fixed on a top of the base by means of snap fit, and the support element and the base cooperatively define an inner chamber, the inlet channel communicates the inner chamber with the airflow channel, an inlet hole is provided on a bottom of the base, and the inlet hole enables the inner chamber to communicate with an outside of the atomizing apparatus.
 5. The electronic cigarette capable of displaying service life state of an atomizing apparatus thereof according to claim 4, wherein a filling tube is provided in the mounting seat, the filling tube has a top extending to the inner chamber and a bottom connecting to a bottom of the base, the bottom cover is arranged under the base, and the bottom cover comprises a plug for sealing the filling tube and a pallet for holding the identification circuit.
 6. The electronic cigarette capable of displaying service life state of an atomizing apparatus thereof according to claim 1, wherein the heating assembly is cylindrical and hollow, and comprises a heating element, a liquid conducting element and a sleeve, wherein the sleeve serves as an outermost layer of the heating assembly, the heating element serves as an innermost layer of the heating assembly, and the liquid conducting element is arranged between an outer peripheral wall of the heating element and an inner wall of the sleeve.
 7. The electronic cigarette capable of displaying service life state of an atomizing apparatus thereof according to claim 6, wherein the heating assembly further comprises a fixing pipe and a backing ring, an outer diameter of the backing ring is equaling to an outer diameter of the liquid conducting element, and the backing ring is arranged coaxially under the conducting element, and the fixing pipe surrounds the conducting element and the backing ring to support the conducting element.
 8. The electronic cigarette capable of displaying service life state of an atomizing apparatus thereof according to claim 1, wherein the supplying and controlling apparatus comprises a holder and a casing, the casing is hollow and cylindrical, with an opening at its top end, and the atomizing apparatus is partially inserted into the casing through the opening, the holder is accommodated in the casing, and the holder and the casing are coaxially arranged under the atomizing apparatus.
 9. The electronic cigarette capable of displaying service life state of an atomizing apparatus thereof according to claim 3, wherein the controlling module comprises a controlling circuit and an airflow sensing element, and the reading unit, the displaying unit, and the controlling unit are provided in the controlling circuit, the airflow sensing element is arranged in an opening communicating with the airflow channel, and the airflow sensing element is configured to feed back a sensing signal to the controlling circuit to activate the heating element.
 10. The electronic cigarette capable of displaying service life state of an atomizing apparatus thereof according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit comprises a timer for timing total service time of the atomizing apparatus, and/or a timer for counting total smoking times of a user, the identity information comprises an identification code and life cycle, and the life cycle is configured to be a predetermined total service time and/or a predetermined total smoking times. 